Surveillance Self-Defense
The Electronic Frontier Foundation's guide to keeping your online communications safe and secure.
A PROJECT OF THE ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION
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We’re the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an independent non-profit working to protect online privacy for nearly thirty years. This is Surveillance Self-Defense: our expert guide to protecting you and your friends from online spying.
Read the BASICS to find out how online surveillance works. Dive into our TOOL GUIDES for instructions to installing our pick of the best, most secure applications. We have more detailed information in our FURTHER LEARNING sections. If you’d like a guided tour, look for our list of common SECURITY SCENARIOS.
Popular Guides
Creating Strong Passwords
Your Security Plan
Protecting Yourself on Social Networks
How To: Use Signal on iOS
How To: Use Signal on Android
How To: Enable Two Factor Authentication
Basics
Animated Overview: How Strong Encryption Can Help Avoid Online SurveillanceAnimated Overview: How to Make a Super-Secure Password Using Dice
Animated Overview: Protecting Your Device From Hackers
Animated Overview: Using Password Managers to Stay Safe Online
Choosing Your Tools
Communicating with Others
Creating Strong Passwords
Keeping Your Data Safe
Seven Steps To Digital Security
What Should I Know About Encryption?
Why Metadata Matters
Your Security Plan
Tool Guides
How to: Avoid Phishing Attacks
How to: Circumvent Online Censorship
How to: Delete your Data Securely on Linux
How to: Delete Your Data Securely on macOS
How to: Delete Your Data Securely on Windows
How to: Enable Two-factor Authentication
How to: Encrypt Your iPhone
How to: Encrypt Your Windows Device
How to: Use KeePassXC
How to: Use OTR for macOS
How to: Use OTR on Linux
How to: Use PGP for Linux
How to: Use PGP for macOS
How to: Use PGP for Windows
How to: Use Signal for Android
How to: Use Signal on iOS
How to: Use Tor for Linux
How to: Use Tor for Windows
How to: Use Tor on macOS
How to: Use WhatsApp on Android
How to: Use WhatsApp on iOS
Further Learning
A Deep Dive on End-to-End Encryption: How Do Public Key Encryption Systems Work?
Attending Protests (International)
Attending Protests (United States)
Choosing the VPN That's Right for You
Facebook Groups: Reducing Risks
How Do I Protect Myself Against Malware?
Key Concepts in Encryption
Key Verification
Protecting Yourself on Social Networks
The Problem with Mobile Phones
Things to Consider When Crossing the U.S. Border
Security Scenarios
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